A new comprehensive study has uncovered yet another instance of the misogyny inherent in the system.

It may come as a surprise to you, but thanks to science, (and a healthy Gubm't grant, no doubt) we now know that kid's books are just a cesspool of gender inequality.

There seems to be some confusion by the good Doc running the study on why this would be so.

“I had kind of expected that books would start off in 1900 being unequal and become more equal over time,” she said.

“We were surprised by the historical patterns and by the animals. The fact that the animals were the most unequal and even in the 1990s there were still two male animals to every one female animal.”

I'd like to think that the hobo-hunting hoardes of AoS could come up with some good theories as to why this might be so.

I'll start the ball rolling: Chick characters just aren't that interesting, what with their primping and gossiping and shopping and going on and on (and on) about their pretty ponies, and most of all, their disinclination to ever catch a hobo in a pit-trap.

Any other ideas?

(h/t to Vic from last night's ONT thread)

Posted by: Open Blogger at 08:26 AM | Comments (164)
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Here's a possible conspiracy theory: Did Zawahiri give up bin Ladin? It's speculation from a Saudi newspaper.

Not sure the potential psyops value of that. These guys don't seem to believe even in the most basic stuff -- UBL's responsibility for 9/11, the non-hornedness of Jews, the immorality of murder, bathing, vaginal sex -- so I think any attempt by us to be clever is doomed by their basic stupidity.

When you think about it, cleverness is only a useful tactic on the clever or at least semi-clever. Usually psyops and deceptions rely on the target to make deductions and inferences themselves, so it feels, to the target, like he thought of it (and therefore buys into it, because everyone likes their own ideas, even if they're not their own ideas).

Stupidity and ignorance is a perfect defense against such ploys. You can lead a horse to water, but if the horse is too stupid to understand the connection between water and survival, the horse won't drink.

Because it's stupid.

On the other hand, I guess this particular story has no need of deduction. The story goes, flatly, "Zawahiri sold out your hero."

But they believe what gives them pleasure or validation to believe, and believing in Al Qaeda, and its new head Zawahiri, gives them pleasure and validation. So I think they'll just reject this out of hand.

Posted by: Ace at 06:53 AM | Comments (228)
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In a good bit of timing that I don't question at all, the USS Michael Murphy (DDG 112) is being christened at General Dynamics' Bath, Maine shipyard today.

As all readers of this Smart Military Blog™ know, Lt. Michael P. Murphy was the first recipient of the Medal of Honor from the war in Afghanistan.

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as the leader of a special reconnaissance element with Naval Special Warfare Task Unit Afghanistan on 27 and 28 June 2005. While leading a mission to locate a high-level anti-coalition militia leader, Lieutenant Murphy demonstrated extraordinary heroism in the face of grave danger in the vicinity of Asadabad, Konar Province, Afghanistan. On 28 June 2005, operating in an extremely rugged enemy-controlled area, Lieutenant Murphy's team was discovered by anti-coalition militia sympathizers, who revealed their position to Taliban fighters. As a result, between 30 and 40 enemy fighters besieged his four-member team. Demonstrating exceptional resolve, Lieutenant Murphy valiantly led his men in engaging the large enemy force. The ensuing fierce firefight resulted in numerous enemy casualties, as well as the wounding of all four members of the team. Ignoring his own wounds and demonstrating exceptional composure, Lieutenant Murphy continued to lead and encourage his men. When the primary communicator fell mortally wounded, Lieutenant Murphy repeatedly attempted to call for assistance for his beleaguered teammates. Realizing the impossibility of communicating in the extreme terrain, and in the face of almost certain death, he fought his way into open terrain to gain a better position to transmit a call. This deliberate, heroic act deprived him of cover, exposing him to direct enemy fire. Finally achieving contact with his Headquarters, Lieutenant Murphy maintained his exposed position while he provided his location and requested immediate support for his team. In his final act of bravery, he continued to engage the enemy until he was mortally wounded, gallantly giving his life for his country and for the cause of freedom. By his selfless leadership, courageous actions, and extraordinary devotion to duty, Lieutenant Murphy reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

Yeah ... I'm all broken up that we didn't take bin Laden alive and put him on trial. SEAL Team 6 visited the justice upon him that he deserved for cutting short the lives of good men like Michael Murphy and thousands of others.

Update: There's a good piece in today's Wall Street Journal by Lt. Cmdr. Eric Greitens, who was in the same BUD/S class with two of the SEALs lost in Operation Red Wing along with Lt. Murphy.

Turning on my cellphone last Sunday, I got a text message with the incredible news: "OBL is dead. Hoo Yah!" Within minutes, a tidal wave of messages followed from fellow Navy SEALs and other military and nonmilitary friends. My own thoughts went back to James Suh and Matt Axelson ("Axe"), two members of my own SEAL training class. When Axe was pinned down by the Taliban in a firefight in Afghanistan in June 2005, Suh boarded a helicopter to fly in for a rescue mission. The helicopter was shot down that day and both men died. I thought to myself: Axe, Suh, they got him.

Posted by: andy at 03:15 AM | Comments (162)
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The daily short bus of AoSHQ posts.

US Pole Dance Championship

Yep, I put this in the sidebar a few days ago. And because I'm a lazy sack o' shit here it is again. It's surprisingly safe for work. To the victor go the spoils:

USPDF Champion 2011 Natasha Wang will receive following prizes:

$5,000 from the USPDF

Flight and accommodation (up to 7 days) to Sydney (AUS) to perform at Miss
Pole Dance Australia 2012 from the USPDF

Exclusive USPDF/X-Pole Tour 2011*:

All expenses paid by X-Pole, including liability insurance

Escorted by Stacey Pope or her assistant on the tour

6 days of instructing workshops where she will receive payment per workshop

Tour dates will be arranged after the US Pole Dance Championship 2011

Duration: 2 weeks in the UK/Ireland area *Tour needs to be scheduled before Jan 1, 2012

Why is this not an Olympic sport along with relay lap-dancing?

Shiny things and fruit cups await you below the foldÂ… more...

Posted by: Genghis at 06:15 PM | Comments (1137)
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I guess this is our way of saying "You suck at intelligence."

Authorities say the attack targeted a compound in North Waziristan, a stronghold of Taliban and al-Qaida militants on the border with Afghanistan.

This stuff might inflame Pakistan, but I think they can tell America is pretty inflamed too.

Posted by: Ace at 05:35 PM | Comments (158)
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Unapologetic sedition and treason, not even dressed up as anything else.

Well, I guess it's dressed up as threats to execute terrorist murders against the U.S. rather than Britain.

But I think we know that U.S. is code for "any Westerner in Christendom."

HUNDREDS of Osama bin Laden supporters clashed with English Defence League extremists today as a “funeral service” for the assassinated terror leader sparked fury outside London’s US Embassy.

Police stepped in to separate the chanting groups amid threats of violence from both sides.

US leaders were branded “murderers” by radicals, who warned vengeance attacks were “guaranteed” and shouted: "USA, you will pay."

Protesters carried signs declaring 'Islam will dominate the world' and Jihad to defend the Muslims' as well as banners attacking the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The pro-bin Laden 'funeral' took place as relatives of the 7/7 terror attack on London - which claimed 52 lives - wept at the inquest into the atrocity just three miles away.

It was organised by controversial preacher Anjem Choudary, who told reporters after the 'service' that America had created a new generation of Islamic terrorists.

Free speech does not extend to outright threats against one's supposed "fellow citizens." Nothing does. It's sedition.

Send them back to their hell-holes.

Posted by: Ace at 01:26 PM | Comments (480)
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A couple of posts down I noted it was wrong to give troops ambiguous, conflicting orders, and that if you want a kill, you should Man Up and order a kill instead of playing games to appease the left and Eric Holder.

But, having said that -- it could be that you give an unambiguous kill order but don't admit that publicly.

Now, if the SEALs get branded as assassins, then one of these bastard countries could claim they don't fall under the Geneva Accords if captured.

Froggy from BlackFive says they never do kill-only missions.

Meanwhile, between NSC staffers, the WH Press Secretary, Homeland Security, CIA and a multitude of “Senior Administration Officials” on background, the story has morphed into various versions of events. While the political side of me sees this correctly as another manifestation of the incompetence of this Administration, this vacillation is causing real harm to the significance of our victory here and to the reputation of the SEAL Teams. Let me assure you right now that there is no such thing as a “Kill only “ mission. If that SEAL operator came through the door to find UBL with his hands up, compliant, and unarmed (including no evidence of a suicide vest) he would have taken a muzzle strike to the face, but not any rounds. He would have swallowed some teeth, been flex cuffed, and dragged roughly out to a marshalling area and then onto the helo. To start out with the story that UBL had used his wife as a shield while shooting at the assaulters and to devolve that into to a woman was wounded and UBL was unarmed and shot in the face is quite a large spectrum of “truth”. Add to that the false notion of the “Kill only” mission, and now you have the entire SEAL community being thrown under the bus as wonton killers of women and unarmed civilians.

...

This is also curious from the standpoint of Islamic sensitivity, which is clearly foremost in the mind of this White House. Only Obama could go out of his way to emphasize the respect for the Islamic burial process only to tee up perfectly the conditions under which conspiracy theories are born.

Now, maybe that's true and maybe that's... not completely true but very helpful. If so, any prudent administration which gives a shit about the guys who had just given the country a triumph (and given their weak C-i-C a boost in the polls) would not contradict that official SEAL policy.

Maybe that is the official SEAL policy. Maybe it's only the official SEAL policy, if you get me.

But if that's the case, we are very definitely in a The First Rule of Fight Club Is You Don't Talk About Fight Club situation here. If the SEALs may or may not always adhere to their official policy, there's a reason we're maintaining that official policy.

To protect them.

And you don't have your jackass political operators and jock-sniffers to out to the press and contradict and undermine that official story, showing off how badass they are by giving away the secrets of the real badasses.

Here's Froggy's follow-up:

This story regarding whether or not the SEALs were specifically instructed to kill UBL has now officially gotten out of control. Obama is trying to have his cake and eat it too, and in so doing, he has completely buddy fucked the SEAL Teams. Already stories are being written by Obama syncophants and AQ sympathizers implicating the SEALs as essentially murdering an unarmed man. Meanwhile, on background, more "Senior Administration Officials" are saying that POTUS ordered the SEALs to assassinate bin Laden...

I don't know what the truth is. We get nothing but conflicting spin. Obama does indeed want it all ways -- he wants credit for being the sort of tough-guy who'd order a kill-only mission, and he wants credit from the left for not being that kind of tough-guy.

Meanwhile his Administration is out there outing what, if true, seems to be a rather huge secret of the SEALs, and for very good reason.

If it's a secret that SEALs aren't always there to capture, then let's keep that secret, huh?

Bah. Amateurs and camera-posers and jock-sniffers and grandstanders who don't give a damn about the men they nominally "lead."

GutsyCall.com? Someone register "CutesyGall.com."

Thanks to DrewM.

BTW: This isn't about Obama so much (he hasn't contradicted the capture or kill story that I know of, at least not publicly); but who are these "senior administration officials" showing off to their liberal buddies? And I note "senior administration official" can, in fact, include Obama.

Or that horse-toothed jackass Joe Biden.

Posted by: Ace at 11:45 AM | Comments (361)
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Watch him attempt to bully Condi Rice. Because he's tough. That's why he won the Invisible Heart medal in Viet-Not.

She's not having it.

Thanks to DrewM.

Posted by: Ace at 11:02 AM | Comments (184)
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Bush gave the same order when he had intelligence that UBL might be present at a jihadi convention in Tora Bora. (The same Tora Bora UBL had previously fled from. The way Holy Warriors do.)

But he wasn't.

But: Yes, the call was made.

But just as the half dozen B-2 Stealth bombers were halfway on the 3,000-mile flight to their target, commanders ordered them to return to their secret base in the Indian Ocean, because of doubts about the intelligence on Bin Laden and concerns about civilian casualties from the bombs.

A smaller, more precise raid was carried out by commandos and attack helicopters, killing several dozen militants in the episode, which has not been previously disclosed.

But the founder and formative figure of Al Qaeda was not there.

Why wasn't he there? Well, our latest intelligence (which could be wrong) is that UBL didn't leave his Abbottabad bedroom for... five years.

Like Holy Warriors do.

Osama Bin Laden spent the last five years living in the room of his mansion where he was shot and killed by U.S. forces, according to Pakistan security officials.

The claims were made by the terrorist leader's wife, who apparently told interrogators that she and her husband had not left the same room for the past half a decade.

There's a lot more at that article, the latest stuff (which may or may not be true) being reported about the raid.

According to the Daily Mail, SEALs were told to assume that UBL wore a suicide vest if he wore any clothes at all; so unless he were caught stark naked, the order was to kill him, for the sake of troops' safety.

Even if he had been naked, he still presumably would have had to drop to his knees with hands behind back shouting "I surrender! I surrender!" to have any chance of actually being captured -- it seems the SEALs' orders were to assume anything inconsistent with clear and complete surrender was to be regarded as resistance and therefore to be met with lethal force.

I don't know that -- I'm guessing it's something like that based on the apparent mission parameters of, supposedly, "kill or capture," but with a strong bias (wink, wink) to the "kill" part.

I'm not sure that's a bad Rule of Engagement. I guess you can make it clear to the troops that they are to kill unless there is clear evidence of absolute, absolute safety in a capture; but then, if you're biasing that far to "kill," why even put troops in the position of having to take a quarter-second to make that judgment? Why not just Man Up and say, "Kill him, don't even think about it."

The answer, of course, is that Obama has to play these legalistic games for his bleeding-heart bien pensant liberal base.

After all, if he issues a Kill On Sight order, he risks an indictment from Eric F'n' Holder.

As usual, the indecisiveness/tentativeness of our supposed leaders becomes the vague, possibly-prosecutable muddle that the actual soldiers on the ground have to guess about, putting their own lives in greater danger than necessary.

But all that's important is that our so-called "leaders" are semantically protected from the legal prosecutions. If our soldiers and CIA agents wind up be prosecuted based on the deliberately-murky "rules" set up by their superiors -- then by all means, put them in jail, just to prove "we're better than that."

Even though we're not. Since our leaders refuse to make that "we're better than that" policy official and clearly encoded. They want to just let our troops grope through the ambiguities, on pain of imprisonment if they err.

Oh: Since I'm using the term bien pensant lately I decided I should probably look it up. I sort of knew what it meant, but not completely.

It means "Someone who accepts and or espouses a fashionable idea after it has been established and maintains it without a great amount of critical thought."

At least that's the meaning I intend. The Sheep who think they're mavericks by all baaing the same criticially unexamined idea.

Posted by: Ace at 10:23 AM | Comments (206)
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I saw people mentioning "sorcery" in the comments but thought it was an in-joke that you had to be there for.

Note: This is a repost, in case you didn't see Maetenloch's 12:50 am posting on this. Which I, um, didn't.

Now what do we make of this? On one hand, it's lunatic to accuse a political rival of employing "supernatural powers" to advance his policies.

On the other hand... well, it's Ahmadinejad. Why not?

And he's created a lunatic cult of supernatural beliefs, so: Set a sorcerer to catch a sorcerer.

Close allies of Iran's president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, have been accused of using supernatural powers to further his policies amid an increasingly bitter power struggle between him and the country's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Several people said to be close to the president and his chief of staff, Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei, have been arrested in recent days and charged with being "magicians" and invoking djinns (spirits).

Ayandeh, an Iranian news website, described one of the arrested men, Abbas Ghaffari, as "a man with special skills in metaphysics and connections with the unknown worlds".

The arrests come amid a growing rift between Ahmadinejad and Khamenei which has prompted several MPs to call for the president to be impeached.

On Sunday, Ahmadinejad returned to his office after an 11-day walkout in an apparent protest over Khamenei's reinstatement of the intelligence minister, who the president had initiallyasked to resign.

Ayatollah Mesbah Yazdi, a hardline cleric close to Khamenei, warned that disobeying the supreme leader – who has the ultimate power in Iran – is equivalent to "apostasy from God".

Actually the dispute does involve the Biggest Genie of All, the Twelfth Mahdi. Ahmadinejad and his fellow sorcerers are pushing the idea that his return is at hand, and they are using divination magic to prove this prediction. The conservative clerics, on the other hand (and here conservative means "not quite insane"), maintain that the return of the divine cannot be predicted by man and to claim so, I assume, is a kind of blasphemy.

As they say in the movies: It's so crazy it just might work! more...

Posted by: Ace at 09:52 AM | Comments (175)
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